Source: The Herald Sun, Wednesday, February 7, 1996,
p.3 Source: The Herald Sun, Wednesday, February 7, 1996,
p.3
Big spenders: Dukes fashion store boss Tina La Rocca.
Picture: MARK SMITH
By KYLIE HANSEN, family reporter VICTORIANS are the nation's big spenders when it comes to clothes books, gambling and rec- reation, a survey has found. But their pursuit of pleasure means they have little left for home improvements. The Household Ex- penditure Survey of Australian states and territories for 1993-94 found Victorians spend an average $601.76 a week. The Australian Bureau of Statistics survey showed Melbourne res- idents were the country's fourth highest spenders. While Victorians are more likely to splurge on leisure, most money was still swallowed up by weekly bills. Victorians' biggest outlays were on food and drink, transport and housing. They spend more money than almost every other state on fuel and power and slightly less on superannuation and life insurance. But any money left over is spent on recreation or clothes - Victorians spend less than other Australians on furniture and their homes. The survey showed that the average Australian spends $3.79 a week on women's clothes, the average Victorian, $5.23. Fashion expert Tina La Rocca said it was no surprise so much was spent on clothes - as Melbourne is such a fashion-obsessed city. The 26-year-old boss of Dukes clothes store chain said clothes and books dominated social chat in the city. While the average Aust- ralian spends $5.17 a week on gambling, Victorians proffer $6.71. And Victorians spend $15.70 a week on Australian holidays ($14.06 nationally), yet less than the average for overseas holidays. The survey showed Victoria had one of the lowest increases - 13 per cent - in spending since 1988-89, and that Melbourne had the fourth highest rate of spending on housing costs.
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